New York state recently released Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s 17th proposal of the 2018 State of the State, which would provide a $34 million investment in modernizing and expanding Stewart International Airport in Orange County.
The investment would allow for the construction of a permanent U.S. Customs and Border Protection federal inspection station and would increase access to destinations and attractions throughout the Mid-Hudson Valley by allowing the airport to handle domestic and international flights. It also is meant to increase passenger rates which have been low in recent years.
Part of the modernization would include renaming the airport New York International at Stewart Field. The new name will help attract additional flight service to the region.
By adding a federal inspection station, the airport will have the capacity to screen up to 400 international passengers an hour.
“By transforming Stewart Airport into a state-of-the-art transportation destination, we are providing an inviting gateway to the region and supercharging an economic engine for the entire Mid-Hudson Valley,” Cuomo said. “This international transportation hub will provide a world-class passenger experience, attract new visitors and businesses and continue to move the Mid-Hudson Valley forward.”
The proposal would need to be approved by the Port Authority.